PREFACE. 



The idea of a school garden is already so obviously 

 an acceptable one, that the title of the pamphlet was 

 changed in the third edition from " Public School Gar- 

 den " to " Schopl Garden. " For, it belongs not merely 

 to every public school, but to every school for the deaf- 

 mutes, for the feeble-minded, for orphans ; to every 

 polytechnic school (real schule), to every gymnasium 

 and every normal school. A specially neat, well-con- 

 sidered garden belongs also to every kindergarten. 



School boards will not perhaps everywhere include a 

 garden in a kindergarten, but so much the more should 

 they do so in the public school. In reference to this, the 

 conduct of the K. K. Silesian Board is noteworthy. The 

 School Counsellor recommended the erection of school 

 gardens in a printed document. At present, Diet, Min- 

 istry of Agriculture, and Department of Instruction, 

 have granted supplies to every teacher who takes agri- 

 cultural instruction. These courses of instruction are 

 inspired by local school inspectors, by district school 

 inspectors, and by the votaries of the Agricultural 

 Union, who are appointed by the local school inspector. 

 These last men belong mostly to the class of stewards 

 of landed estates, foresters, proprietors, in short of 

 practical country owners. In the inspection, school 

 gardens are specially considered. If a teacher has not 

 put his school garden into good order, he receives no 

 subsidy. 



So long as teachers who have not received instruction 

 upon this subject in their training schools, work in 

 a theoretic, practical way, so long it is recommended, 

 as in Austria, to make them adepts in the matter in 

 the autumn session of the Union. But an adequate 

 course of agricultural instruction for teachers, and agri- 



